Fans account for 50 percent of the vote which determines the all-star captains and starters, with current players accounting for 25 percent and the media accounting for the remaining 25 percent.

NBA coaches select the reserves for each conference and that’s likely the avenue Booker will have to travel to become an all-star for the first time in his fourth NBA season.

Averaging 25.5 points and 7.2 assists, Booker is one of 11 players to lead his team in both categories, but Phoenix (9-30) has lost four games in a row and is last in the Western Conference going into Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers (21-16).

Team success matters, but Booker is playing at an all-star level.

If it’s up to the fans, he won’t be one this season.

Practice, finally

The Suns had a much-needed practice Thursday as they hadn’t practiced since Dec. 21 before it played at Washington.

“I think we took a step forward,” Booker said. “After dropping four in a row at home, coming off a long road trip, we haven’t practiced in a few weeks. Getting back out here, tune things back up, go over schemes, hash things out. I think we’re good now.”

The Suns have lost six of seven games between their last two practices counting Thursday’s practice.

“Film never lies,” Kokoskov said. “They can see themselves. Sometimes you’re not sure, you’re guessing and then you see yourself on film and then it tells you what happened last night. Energy was good. Guys were not excited to practice, but they understand we badly need it.”

Phoenix Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov in the first half during an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)(Photo: Rick Scuteri, AP)

Kokoskov said the Suns could use practice after Wednesday’s 132-127 loss to Philadelphia in a game they tied a season-high for most points allowed this season in a quarter – 44 in the first – and trailed by as many as 30 in the second half.

“When your foundation is not as solid because we’re not yet team that can just polish, work on little details and move on,” he said after Wednesday’s game. “We have to drill some stuff. We can’t talk basketball. We have to play basketball.”

Suns did some drill stuff Thursday – and more.

“We competed against each other,” Booker said. “Running some two-on-two drills. Live drills going at each other. Getting to go out there and compete tomorrow.”

Set the tone

Phoenix lost the free-throw game to Philadelphia, again, Thursday night.

The Sixers made more free throws (41-of-54) than Phoenix attempted (30-of-36) and attempted 18 more free throws than the Suns. Back in November, the Sixers went 31-of-42 from the line in an 119-114 home win while the Suns shot 13-of-24.

Kokoskov credited the 76ers, particularly Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, for how they’re able to draw fouls, but took another angle when addressing the foul situation.

“Just be a gamer,” he said. “Understanding their physicality and setting the tone. If one guy is playing aggressive and kind of pressing the ball and the other guys are playing soft, the referees are going to see that really quick. We have to come with the five guys being aggressive and setting that tone. Being aggressive before we get in the bonus. Take one foul and set a tone.”

Translation?

Take a hard foul to send a message?

Look to see if Phoenix does that Friday night.

“In a couple of recent games, we were way too soft, and we committed cheap fouls,” Kokoskov said. “You get in the bonus and suddenly, you increase the aggressiveness and we give them free throws. It should be the other way around. Aggressive before the bonus situation. Once we establish our tone, then you can kind of maintain and be smarter.”

'Pride sets in'

Down 99-69 in the third, Phoenix made a furious comeback and trimmed Philadelphia’s lead down to six with three minutes, 43 seconds left.

“Our energy picked up,” Suns reserve Troy Daniels said. “It gets to a point you’re in a game and pride sets in. I was trying to tell those guys on the bench when we came into the huddle that at the end of the day, we might lose this game, but let’s not lose by 30 or 40. Let’s go out and play hard for the rest of the game.”

The Suns trailed by 3 with 5.9 seconds, but J.J. Redick hit two free throws to put the game away.

Philadelphia playing the second of a back-to-back to conclude a five-game road trip factored in the how the game ended. Still, Phoenix took solace in the comeback, but once again had a terrible start.

So that begs the question to Kokoskov on whether he’s going to change the starting lineup?

“Once you coach a team and part of a team, you think about your team all the time,” Kokoskov said. “When you drive your car. Catch yourself sitting with your family thinking about the starting lineup.”

Kokoskov said he’s sticking with the same starting lineup for Friday’s game – Booker, TJ Warren and rookies De’Anthony Melton, Mikal Bridges and Deandre Ayton.

Phoenix is 4-6 with that starting lineup.

Good to go

Kokoskov said Warren sustained a “minor” injury in Thursday’s practice, but is expected to play Friday against the Clippers.

Los Angeles Clippers at Suns

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena

TV: FOX Sports Arizona

Outlook: Phoenix (9-30) continues its seven-game homestand against the Los Angeles Clippers (21-16) after losing Wednesday night to Philadelphia, to Golden State on New Year’s Eve and to Oklahoma City and Denver in back-to-back games. … The Clippers have lost their last two games to San Antonio and Philadelphia, which followed up its win in Los Angeles with a 132-127 victory in Phoenix. The Sixers were up by 30 points early in the second half before Phoenix mounted a comeback to get within six in the fourth and three with 5.9 seconds left in the game. … The Clippers are 2-0 against Phoenix, winning the latter game in overtime, 123-119, last month in Phoenix. … The Suns conclude this homestand Sunday against Charlotte and Tuesday vs. Sacramento. The Suns are 0-1 against the Kings and have yet to play the Hornets this season.